UNDERSTANDING CHRISTIAN JOY
‘TIS THE SEASON
The turkey, stuffing, gravy, and all-things-pumpkin-related are now officially behind us, which can only mean one thing: the Christmas season is officially here! Cue the Hallmark movies, hot chocolate, lights, trees, and for us here in Southwest Florida—artificial snow and faux fireplaces. While the Christmas season and its many traditions undeniably stir up many nostalgic and sentimental feelings, one particular word or sentiment seems to capture the season best: JOY! After all, “Tis the season to be jolly.” This phrase summarizes what many believe this season should produce in us—high spirits, happiness, laughter, and an overall disposition of good cheer.
To say that the theme of joy saturates the pages of the Bible is a vast understatement. The word itself occurs over 150 times[1], but when you include other terms associated with it––such as rejoicing––we find nearly 400 references spanning both the Old and New Testaments [2] and every major literary genre in the Bible. But as pastor and author Matt Smethurst recognizes, joy is "far from being a peripheral subtheme in Scripture," it is "the heartbeat of God."[3] If this is true about him, and the Christmas season aims to aid us in embracing this joy, we should endeavor to understand this word while rejecting its many cheap imitations.
But understanding exactly what joy is or defining it in specific terms is a complicated process. It is used throughout Scripture to describe the emotional feeling that springs forth from favorable circumstances while also anchoring it to a state of mind or an orientation of the heart that is secure, stable, and unchanging. Capturing the essence of this word may be difficult, but perhaps it is best to say that joy is a settled emotional state of contentment, confidence, and hope found in Jesus Christ, produced by the Holy Spirit, and cultivated by intimacy with God. Let's explore this definition as we strive to embrace the joy that God so graciously extends to us this Christmas season.
CHRISTIAN JOY IS FOUND IN JESUS CHRIST
One of the remarkable aspects of Jesus that the New Testament writers repeatedly affirm throughout the Gospels is the fact that he was a man defined by joy. Angels announced his birth as "good news of great joy (Lk. 2:10). His coming inaugurates the kingdom of God here on earth—a kingdom described as one of joy (Rom. 14:17). His joyful exuberance led many to falsely claim that he was a glutton and a drunkard (Lk. 7:34). He rejoiced in the Holy Spirit (Lk. 10:21), and his parables often described the joy of his ministry (Lk. 15:3-7). And finally, it was the joy of Jesus that led him to endure the suffering of the cross (Heb. 12:2). Jesus was a man of "deep, habitual joy,"[4] and it is this very joy that he now invites us to experience.
In the Upper Room Discourse, Jesus tells his disciples that all of his teachings had a singular aim: "that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full" (Jhn. 15:11). The words of Jesus are an invitation for his disciples to experience the fullness of joy. But his invitation moves beyond the human realm and into the divine domain. The same joy that Jesus has experienced from eternity past, which characterized his earthly ministry, he now extends to his followers—"the very joy of the Son of God poured into our souls."[5] Christian joy is ultimately distinguished by its source, for Jesus is not only the object of our joy; he is its essence. As John Piper describes it, "Christ not only offers himself as the divine object of my joy, but pours his capacity for joy into me, so that I can enjoy him with the very joy of God."[6]
CHRISTIAN JOY IS PRODUCED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Christian's joy is found in Christ—his very joy dwelling in us—but it is experienced by the power of the Holy Spirit. In the same way that Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit (Lk. 10:21), Christians today are dependent upon his enabling presence to receive the gift of joy. This is why the Apostle Paul can speak of the joy of Christ as being from the Spirit. He writes that the Thessalonian church "received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit" (1 Thess. 1:6). He tells the Roman church that the kingdom of God "is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17). In his letter to the Galatians, he describes joy as a “fruit of the Spirit” (Gal. 5:22)—a godly attribute or character that can never be attained by mere human effort.[7]
The Dictionary of Biblical Imagery rightly asserts, “Joy is not found by seeking it as an end in itself. It must be given by God.”[8] If Christians are to experience the joy of Christ, it must be produced by the empowering presence of the Spirit. The joy of Christ is made readily available to Christians who live by the Spirit, allowing him to bear the fruit of joy in their hearts by faith. Any efforts to drum up joy in our own strength will only be met by frustration, needless striving, and ultimately, failure and utter defeat. The settled state of contentment, confidence, and hope promised by joy will be replaced by dread, sorrow, and despair. Instead, we are invited to allow "the God of all hope" to "fill you with all joy...in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope" (Rom 15:13).
CHRISTIAN JOY IS CULTIVATED BY INTIMACY
Jesus pours his joy into our souls, the Spirit produces it within us, but it must be continually cultivated as we pursue intimacy with God as our greatest treasure. As Jerry Bridges wisely comments, “True Christian joy is both a privilege and a duty.”[9] Yes, joy is a gift given to us by Jesus—received by faith and experienced by his empowering presence—but we also find that “worship evokes it, obedience discovers it, and work fosters it.”[10] While this duty may seemingly contradict the Spirit’s role in producing joy in us, we must recognize that our ability to cultivate it is in and of itself a work of God. As Paul writes to the Philippian church, "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure" (Phil. 2:12–13).
Our role in receiving the joy of Christ is made quite clear in the Upper Room Discourse. Using the allegory of a vineyard, Jesus declares that he is the vine, his Father is the divine gardener, and we are simply branches that bear the fruit of the vine (Jhn. 15:1-2). What is our role as branches in this process? Jesus describes it in a single phrase—“Abide in me” (Jhn. 15:4-5). To abide simply means to remain, stay, or continually dwell. It means we willfully and purposefully make choices that position us to continue to receive the life and nutrients that flow from the sap of the vine. In essence, it refers to the various means of grace we utilize to cultivate our intimacy with God, which in turn enable us to receive his gift of joy freely as his Spirit works within us.
EXPERIENCING CHRISTIAN JOY
Beloved, are you unsatisfied with the fleeting and momentary offerings of this world? Christian joy offers you contentment that will satisfy your hungry and thirsty soul. Are you anxious or worried about the uncertainty of the future? Christian joy gives you confidence to continue trusting in the faithfulness of God, even as you face the unknown. Has the suffering and pain of this world driven you to despair? Christian joy provides an anchor that keeps you tethered to the unwavering hope provided for us in the gospel.
Receive today what the Triune God has so generously given to you: a settled emotional state of contentment, confidence, and hope found in Jesus Christ, produced by the Holy Spirit, and cultivated by intimacy with God.
Don’t settle for anything less this Christmas season.
[1] Brand, C., Draper, C., England, A., Bond, S., Clendenen, E. R., Butler, T. C., & La!a, B. (Eds.). (2003). In Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Ryken, L., Wilhoit, J., Longman, T., Duriez, C., Penney, D., & Reid, D. G. (2000). In Dictionary of Biblical Imagery (electronic ed.). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
[3] Matt Smethurst, Real Joy Has An Address. The Gospel Coalition, Sept. 4, 2019, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/joy-has-address.
[4] Donald Macleod quoted by David Mathis, Oh the Deep, Deep Joy of Jesus. Desiring God, June 28, 2018. https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/oh-the-deep-deep-joy-of-jesus
[5] Ibid.
[6] Ibid.
[7] Jon Bloom, The Joy of God in Us: Why the Spirit Produces Happiness. Desiring God, April 1, 2022. https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-joy-of-god-in-us
[8] The Dictionary of Biblical Imagery.
[9] Jerry Bridges, The Fruitful Life: The Overflow of God’s Love Through You (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2006), pg. 75.
[10] The Dictionary of Biblical Imagery.